Former af2 players will impact AFL in 2007
October 24, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Green Bay Blizzard News Release
The player personnel departments of Arena Football League teams are abuzz with activity this time of year as coaches, general managers and their staffs negotiate and sign players they feel will best help their teams win the ArenaBowl. Among those players who have already and will continue to be signing with AFL teams are former arenafootball2 players, whose season ended two months ago with the ArenaCup in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Since the AFL signing period began on October 2nd, the following are af2 players who have signed with AFL teams:
The Georgia Force have already signed three af2 players: Fullback/Linebacker Doug Harding, a former Scranton/Wilkes Barre Pioneer who led the Pioneers in sacks (6.5) and quarterbacks Ryan Vena and James MacPherson, who last season played for the Albany Conquest and Green Bay Blizzard, respectively. This past season Vena set a new single season af2 passing record with 4,520 yards and MacPherson led the Blizzard to the ArenaCup 7 Championship game.
The Philadelphia Soul have signed a trio of af2 players: former Manchester Wolves defensive specialist Brian Mance who had 69.5 tackles in just 13 games for the Wolves and Josh Fields, a former defensive lineman for the Everett Hawks, who led the Hawks in tackles for a loss (7.5 for 40 yards) this past season despite playing in only 11 games. The Wolves also signed Mance's teammate offensive specialist Steve Gonzalez, who finished second in the League in scoring (276 points).
The Dallas Desperados have lassoed former Amarillo Duster wide receiver/defensive back John Roberson III who led the Dusters in receiving yards with for 41 catches for 592 yards last season. The Desperados also added Spokane Shock offensive specialist Antwone Savage whose 1, 851 all-purpose yards led the team this past season and helped them secure the ArenaCup 7 Championship. Savage may be better known for having caught the first touchdown pass in team history.
After a year's absence due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans VooDoo are back in business and wasted little time in signing two af2 players. Former Bakersfield Blitz defensive specialist Alex Wallace, who was named af2 ADT Defensive Player of the Year this past season and led the League in interceptions with 11, signed with the VooDoo. One of Wallace's new teammates will be former Manchester Wolves quarterback Steve Bellisari, who led the Wolves to a 5-1 record as their starter.
The Columbus Destroyers have doused part of the Louisville Fire 2006 roster by signing teammates Will Rabatin and Brian Thornburg. Rabatin is an offensive/defensive lineman who was named Second-Team All-af2 American Conference while Thornburg is a fullback/linebacker who played on offense, defense and special teams in 14 games last season.
The Fire may have been burned the most by the Grand Rapids Rampage, who signed wide receiver Rob Mager. Mager was named the 2006 Schutt Offensive Player of the Year for af2 and also tied the af2 record for touchdowns in a season with 54.
Florida Firecats offensive/defensive lineman John Miller will continue to play football in the Sunshine State as he has signed a contract with the Orlando Predators.
The Arkansas Twisters will hopefully not be caught in a windstorm after the losses of defensive stalwarts Steve Watson and Kimani Jones. Watson, a fullback/linebacker who was named First-Team All-af2 and whose 16.0 sacks this past season led the League as well as broke a franchise record, has signed with the San Jose SaberCats. Jones, an offensive/defensive lineman who has been called "a can't miss prospect" by Twisters Head Coach John Gregory, will be taking his skills to New York where he has signed a contract with the Dragons.
The reigning ArenaBowl XX Champion Chicago Rush have also signed a member of the ArenaCup 7 Champion Spokane Shock, wide receiver/linebacker Kevin Beard, whose 828 all-purpose yards placed him third on the team during the regular season. He led the team in receiving yards (122) and had two touchdowns in the ArenaCup. In addition to Beard, the Rush signed wide receiver/defensive back James Sadler, who spent the last two seasons playing for the Tulsa Talons. This past season he was the Talon's leading defender with 69.0 tackles, eight interceptions and 20 passes broken up.
The following is a complete list of all the 49 af2 players who have signed with AFL teams:
Player Name AFL team Former af2 team
Cully, Steve New York Albany
Vena, Ryan Georgia Albany
Ward, Jamaar Kansas City Albany
Roberson, John Dallas Amarillo
Jones, Kimani New York Arkansas
Watson, Steve San Jose Arkansas
Bell, Nate Grand Rapids Bakersfield
Wallace, Alex New Orleans Bakersfield
Turner, Jerry Grand Rapids Bakersfield
Browden, Terrell Colorado Birmingham
Clark, James Georgia Birmingham
Keyes, Bobby Dallas Birmingham
Rislov, Scott San Jose Central Valley
Fields, John Philadelphia Everett
Bailey, Cory New Orleans Florida
Miller, John Orlando Florida
Boss, Robert Chicago Green Bay
Crocker, David Georgia Green Bay
Holmes, Brent Georgia Green Bay
MacPherson, James Georgia Green Bay
Lazare, Peter Dallas Green Bay
Huyser, Brett Colorado Green Bay
Jones, Anthony New Orleans Louisville
Mager, Rob Grand Rapids Louisville
Rabatin, Will Columbus Louisville
Thornburg, Brian Columbus Louisville
Dietz, Brett Chicago Louisville
Jackson, Matt Columbus Macon
Bellisari, Steve New Orleans Manchester
Gonzalez, Steve Philadelphia Manchester
Mance, Brian Philadelphia Manchester
Williams, Wendell Nashville Manchester
Azar, Steve Las Vegas Memphis
Haugabrook, Sidney Las Vegas Memphis
Allen, Barrett San Jose Oklahoma City
Haglund, AJ San Jose Oklahoma City
Graham, Troy Georgia Quad City
Hicks, Tim Los Angeles Quad City
Petty, Jermaine Columbus Quad City
Beard, Kevin Chicago Spokane
Savage, Antwone Dallas Spokane
Hawkins, Lyndell San Jose Stockton
Primus, Stan Kansas City Tennessee Valley
Cannings, Paul Orlando Tulsa
Radlinski, Mark Grand Rapids Tulsa
Ruffin, Chad Columbus Tulsa
Sadler, James Chicago Tulsa
Harding, Doug Georgia W-B/Scranton
Yisrael, Yaacov New York W-B/Scranton
Courtesy of AFL Communications
For more information, or to get your 2007 Green Bay Blizzard season tickets, contact the Blizzard office at (920) 405-1264.
arenafootball2 Stories from October 24, 2006
- Albany Conquest to hold tryout camp - Albany Firebirds
- Former af2 players will impact AFL in 2007 - Green Bay Blizzard
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
